Find Hiking and History Atop Sweeney Ridge

Here in the Bay Area we enjoy our weeks of sun in September and October, making them great months to take a hike. I like to take advantage of those days hiking at Sweeney Ridge, when the fog doesn’t chill the air or obscure the 360-degree views. 

If you know anyone interested in the history of California, take them along to Sweeney Ridge.  There you can stand where the Portola Expedition first saw the San Francisco Bay in 1769, and visit the cold war relic of a Nike Missile site.  But first, you have to climb the hill.

I like to take the Sneath Lane Trail, which begins in a quiet neighborhood in San Bruno, and ends upon the coastal ridge in Pacifica.  From Skyline Boulevard, head west on Sneath Lane, and continue until the road ends at the parking area and trailhead.  This parking area can fill up on nice days if you don’t arrive early, but more spots can be found in the surrounding neighborhood.  Parking is free, but there are no facilities.

 The 1.7 mile trek up to the ridge is wide and paved.  This makes it popular for mountain bikers who brave the steep climb in order to enjoy the exhilarating coast back down.  I prefer to go it on foot, and although the climb is gradual, it can be demanding.  Even so, it’s enjoyed by people of all ages, including health-conscious parents pushing strollers.

As you ascend from Sneath Lane, the vistas of the East Bay open up, and the peninsula spreads south in the foreground, along with the San Andreas Reservoir.  The trail winds around the hills and canyons, thick with coyote brush, and includes a beautiful wildflower display in the spring.  At the end of the climb’s steepest point you reach a well-placed bench.  Stop here for a rest and a view north towards Sutro Tower, where you can watch the fog creep east over Twin Peaks.

From here, it’s a quick finish to the 1,200-foot summit, where you’ll meet the Sweeney Ridge Trail, and the cool coastal breezes.  A few feet to the south is a signed footpath that takes you to the large stone marker observing the Portola Discovery Site. 

In the same clearing, there is also a monument that highlights the 360-degree views.  To help you identify the landmarks viewed from the ridge, the stone is carved with outlines of gems like Mt. Diablo, Mt. Tamalpais, and San Pedro Point jutting into the Pacific.

You have the option to extend your hike in all directions.  Continue south along the Sweeney Ridge Trail for another mile or so and it dead ends at the gate to the Peninsula Watershed.  Beyond this point, only guided walks are available, and by reservation.  To the north lies the concrete remnants of the Nike Missile Site, and the Baquiano Trail heads west down the steep dirt trail to Pacifica. 

Once you’ve completed your own modern-day exploration of the area, you can head back down the long and winding road to the parking lot.  Enjoy this hike while the warm weather lasts, then visit again when the wildflowers bloom in the spring. 

On September 21^st, you can help the Park Conservancy with their Invasive Plant Patrol at Sweeney Ridge.  See their website for more information.

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